قطة سوداء
qittah sawda'
The English phrase 'black cat' is translated into Arabic as قطة سوداء (qittah sawda').
This phrase refers to a cat with black fur.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase is 'cat black' because in Arabic, adjectives follow the nouns they modify.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you may use the informal expression قطة سمرا. In Levantine Arabic, people usually say the informal قطة سودا.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase قطة سوداء uses the feminine form because the noun for cat is feminine. If you are referring to a male cat, the phrase changes to the masculine form قط أسود.
How do you pronounce it?
qittah sawda'
Did you know?
- In Egyptian Arabic, the word سمرا used for 'black' in قطة سمرا literally refers to a 'tan' or 'brownish' skin tone. This reflects a cultural way of describing darker colors through human complexion.
- In some Arab cultures, the phrase قطة سوداء is linked to folklore where black cats are seen as manifestations of jinn or spirits.
- The phrase قطة سوداء uses a 'ta marbuta' (the symbol ة), a letter that can be pronounced as 'a' or 't' depending on the sentence structure.
Examples in context
- توم يربّي قطة سوداء.Tom keeps a black cat.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use قطة سوداء in a sentence.Tatoeba #376363 by saeb, translation #37146 by CK
- أرى قطة سوداء في الحديقة.I see a black cat in the garden.
- شفت قطة سمراء بالحديقة.I saw a black cat in the garden.
- محبتي للقطط السوداء.My love for black cats.
- أنا بحب القطط السمرا.I love black cats.
- رأيت قطة سوداء في الشارع.ra'aytu qittatan sawdā'a fī al-shāri'.I saw a black cat in the street.
- هذه قطة سوداء جميلة.hadhihi qittatun sawdā'u jamīla.This is a beautiful black cat.
Example conversation
Yousef and Maryam are looking at a pet store window.
- يوسف Youssefانظري يا مريم، هناك قطة سوداء جميلة!Unzhuri ya Maryam, hunaka qittatun sawda'u jamila!Look Maryam, there is a beautiful black cat!
- مريم Maryamنعم، إنها تبدو لطيفة جداً.Na'am, innaha tabdu latifatan jiddan.Yes, it looks very cute.
- يوسف Youssefهل تحبين القطط السوداء؟Hal tuhibbina al-qitat as-sawda'?Do you like black cats?
- مريم Maryamأنا أحب كل أنواع القطط.Ana uhibbu kulla anwa' al-qitat.I love all kinds of cats.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
